Can-Am sled dog race on track for March after last year’s cancellation
By Christopher Bouchard, The County
FORT KENT — While last year’s Can-Am Crown sled dog race was canceled due to unseasonably warm weather and a lack of snow, organizers say this year’s event is on track to return on March 1.
Registrations closed Feb. 21, according to a social media post from the Can-Am race organization. Julie Klaucke of Medford is entered into the Willard Jalbert Jr. Can-Am 100 race.
The total purse for the competition is $47,500. The 250-mile race, which takes several days to complete, serves as a qualifier for the Iditarod and Yukon Quest. The Iditarod is a sled dog race that covers nearly 1,000 miles of Alaskan terrain, making it one of the largest of its kind.
In the Can-Am, racers in all categories begin on Saturday, March 1, and the awards ceremony for the 250-mile race is set for Tuesday, March 4.
At this time last year, the Can-Am was still set to proceed, but nearly all other sled dog races set in the lower 48 states were canceled due to the warmer weather. But with rain forecast just before the 2024 event in addition to temperatures predicted to be in the 40s and 50s, last year’s Can-Am was also eventually canceled.
Warmer weather turns portions of the trail into mud, causing dogs to overextend themselves. Dogs could also injure their paws on crusty snow and potentially overheat in the warmer weather.
A 2024 announcement by the CDC that it would implement new rules for dogs traveling across the border was also paused until after this year’s race. The rules would have resulted in hundreds of dollars in extra costs for travelers. The rules required travelers with dogs to come with forms signed by qualified veterinarians.
In response to criticism over the rules, the CDC delayed implementing some of them until April 1, but travelers will still need to follow the rule requiring all dogs entering the U.S. to be at least six months old and microchipped.
Can-Am Crown Vice President Sarah Brooks said in December that the race organization is cautiously optimistic about the changes, but that people will need to participate in upcoming public input sessions to ensure that their voices are heard as the organization revisits these rules.
The event provides immense economic benefits to Fort Kent and the St. John Valley region, boosting business for hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores as many racers and their families come to the area for several days. The race is also set to feature live music, entertainment and games for spectators, according to a Jan. 24 press release issued by the race organization.
“We are thrilled to welcome mushers and spectators from around the world to Fort Kent for the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races,” Can-Am President Dennis Cyr said. “This event is a testament to the dedication and passion of the mushing community, and we look forward to another successful and exciting year.”